What Up Doe?! In this special crossover episode between Black Fridays Podcast and Thanks But No One Asked You, hosts Denzell Turner and Britt Hunter sit down with Blake Stoner, founder and CEO of Vngle — a civic insights company on a mission to revolutionize local news. Based in Atlanta, Vngle trains everyday citizens to become verified community reporters, ensuring that real stories from underrepresented neighborhoods are told with accuracy, authenticity, and heart.

Blake discusses how his family’s deep history in civil rights inspired his commitment to media equity, how the 2014 Ferguson uprising shaped the creation of Vngle, and why the future of journalism depends on collaboration between communities and technology. He also gives insight into Atlanta’s South Downtown revitalization project and his work building one of America’s next great innovation districts.

We’re talking

• How Vngle empowers communities to share real stories and combat misinformation
• The evolution of local journalism and the rise of “news deserts”
• Why civic engagement and entrepreneurship go hand-in-hand
• The vision for Atlanta’s South Downtown as a tech and cultural hub
• How storytelling can rebuild trust between people and media

This episode dives deep into what it means to build technology with purpose — and why democratizing storytelling is key to shaping the future of cities, culture, and connection.

Don’t Forget To Tap In With Our Sponsors!!

Online Podcast Course: https://linkly.link/2EhT0 

Podcast Ebook: https://linkly.link/2EhSz 

Bamboo Dedicated Desks: email [email protected] or visit https://2ly.link/27SOd 

Stay Connected

Show IG: https://www.instagram.com/blackfridayspodcast/

Guest IG: https://www.instagram.com/vnglestories/ 

Guest IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachbhunt_/ 

Guest Website: https://vngle.com/ 

Guest Website: https://betheexceptioncoaching.com/ 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-fridays/id1596422513

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0vMobyyYrvRySGy1MbUTrF?si=1ff56aa6689a472d  

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/black-fridays/donations